Tuesday, 12 August 2014

Apple, Samsung call legal ceasefire in Australia

Apple and Samsung are calling it quits on years of litigation in Australia. The legal strife started almost three years ago when Apple obtained an injunction against the sale of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Apple and Samsung have agreed to drop all litigation between the two companies outside the United States," the companies said in a joint statement.

The injunction halted the release of the Tab 10.1 by several months; far long enough to deem its leading specifications dated. The strategic move helped Apple retain its lead in the then sparse tablet space.

Australia was one of the first countries in which Apple took Samsung to court outside of the US. Additional cases spawned across the globe in countries including South Korea, Japan, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Germany.

The companies will continue their court battle in the US, which has thus far resulted in Samsung having to pay Apple $1 billion in damages following judgement the South Korean smartphone maker copied features of Apple's iPhone.

Samsung and Apple hold the lion's share of the smartphone market; however, new figures from IDC reveal both companies are beginning to concede market share.

The ongoing legal stoush has strained the two companies' relationship as Samsung manufacturers some of the parts featured in Apple's range of iPhones. Apple has since decreased its dependence on Samsung by sourcing parts from additional manufacturers.

The legal ceasefire does not cover licensing agreements.

The news breaks as Microsoft commences proceedings against Samsung in the US following the Redmond giant's acquisition of Nokia.